UN to continue food aid program in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations will continue its food aid program in conflict-affected areas in Central Mindanao, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) said in its report.

The UN food program benefited a total of 1,611,980 affected individuals in 2007 and has helped boost the peace process in Mindanao.

“Currently, WFP has extended its support in Mindanao through the program on Immediate Support to Conflict-Affected Population in partnership with the Philippine government,” announced Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino Razon Jr. who received the copy of the recently released WFP report yesterday.

A team of WFP officials visited the Philippines in December 2004 and analyzed the food security situation here, specifically in the 11 conflict-affected municipalities in Central Mindanao, mostly remote villages.

After the WFP team conducted consultations with various government agencies, they selected recipient areas based on the government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Conflict-Affected List composed of 150 towns in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Marawi City, Razon said.

Razon said the objectives of the WFP program are “to support the peace process through assistance in conflict-affected areas; support the reconstruction of household and community assets; and improve human security by reducing malnutrition and increasing primary school enrolment and attendance.”

About 66 percent or 1,057,572 food recipients were young people aged 18 and below, Razon said. Some 555,407 beneficiaries were adults.

Razon thanked the WFP for prioritizing conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, adding their move would help alleviate the plight of poor and marginalized people in Central Mindanao. – Paolo Romero